Agenda Item 6: Draft provisional agenda of the Third Meeting of the SBSTTA

The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)

Having reviewed the draft provisional agenda for the third meeting of the SBSTTA included as the annex to this recommendation,

Notes that the draft provisional agenda is based on the suggestions contained in the medium-term programme of work of the SBSTTA as adopted in recommendation I/2 of the SBSTTA, the medium-term programme of work of the Conference of Parties as adopted in decision II/18, and the specific recommendations arising from the second meeting of the SBSTTA;

Considers that the draft provisional agenda contains too many items for each to be given the necessary consideration at the third meeting of the SBSTTA to allow the SBSTTA to advise the Conference of the Parties adequately;

Considers also that the workload for the Secretariat to prepare adequate documentation for the meeting of the SBSTTA in good time bears the danger of hampering the functioning of the Secretariat, taking into account that other meetings have to be covered;

Concerned that the ability of the SBSTTA to fulfil its function under the terms of Article 25 of the Convention may thereby be compromised,

Requests the Conference of the Parties at its third meeting to provide guidance on the setting of priorities within those items on the draft provisional agenda for which it seeks advice.

Annex to Recommendation II/12

DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDA OF THE THIRD MEETING OF THE SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Organizational matters:

2.1 Election of officers;

2.2 Adoption of the agenda;

2.3 Organization of work.

3. Assessment of the status and trends of the biological diversity of inland water ecosystems and identification of options for conservation and sustainable use.

4. Other matters on which advice from the SBSTTA is required by the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties:

4.1 Implementation of Article 7 on indicators and monitoring

4.1.1 Advice to Parties in addressing issues of monitoring and assessment, including an elaboration of assessment methodologies for meeting the requirements of the Convention, taking into account the contents of those national reports already prepared and reports to other conventions and international processes.

4.1.2 Options for capacity-building in developing countries in the application of guidelines and indicators for subsequent national reports.

4.1.3 Current approaches to indicator development and recommendations for a preliminary core set of indicators of biological diversity, particularly those related to threats.

4.2 Impact assessments

4.2.1 What kind of scientific and technical information should be collected for impact assessment of projects and what ways and means should be used to share this information to promote minimization of adverse impacts in accordance with Article 14?

4.3 Promotion of international technical and scientific cooperation

4.3.1 Provision of advice on the scientific, technical and technological aspects of international cooperation in the area of conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components, in accordance with Article 18.

4.4.1 Identification of alternative models and mechanisms for linkages between in-situ and ex-situ conservation.

4.5 Consideration of knowledge, innovations and practises of indigenous and local communities

4.6 Review of the implementation of the pilot phase of the clearing-house mechanism

4.7 Coastal and marine biological diversity

4.7.1 Scientific, technical and technological aspects of the conservation and sustainable use of coastal and marine biological diversity.

4.8 Terrestrial biological diversity

4.8.1 Ways and means to cooperate with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa on matters relating to biological diversity and drylands with a view to identifying common priorities.

4.8.2 Examination of specific issues related to biological diversity and sustainable mountain development arising out of the implementation of chapter 13 of Agenda 21.

4.8.3 Ways and means to cooperate with the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests on matters relating to biological diversity and forests with a view to developing common priorities.

4.9 Agricultural biological diversity

4.9.1 Gap analysis of the activities and instruments related to agricultural biological diversity in order to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in the agricultural sector.

5. Overall assessment of the SBSTTA's work and of the effectiveness of its advice (1995-1997), in the light of possible future work of the SBSTTA.

5.1 Review of the operations of the SBSTTA in light of the Conference of the Parties' review of its medium-term Programme of Work.

5.2 Review of the operations of the SBSTTA in light of the Conference of the Parties' review of a longer-term work programme.

6. Draft provisional agenda of the fourth meeting of the SBSTTA.

7. Date and venue of the fourth meeting of the SBSTTA.

8. Other matters.

9. Adoption of the report.

10. Closure of the meeting.

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Agenda Item 6: Draft provisional agenda of the Third Meeting of the SBSTTA

The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)

Having reviewed the draft provisional agenda for the third meeting of the SBSTTA included as the annex to this recommendation,

Notes that the draft provisional agenda is based on the suggestions contained in the medium-term programme of work of the SBSTTA as adopted in recommendation I/2 of the SBSTTA, the medium-term programme of work of the Conference of Parties as adopted in decision II/18, and the specific recommendations arising from the second meeting of the SBSTTA;

Considers that the draft provisional agenda contains too many items for each to be given the necessary consideration at the third meeting of the SBSTTA to allow the SBSTTA to advise the Conference of the Parties adequately;

Considers also that the workload for the Secretariat to prepare adequate documentation for the meeting of the SBSTTA in good time bears the danger of hampering the functioning of the Secretariat, taking into account that other meetings have to be covered;

Concerned that the ability of the SBSTTA to fulfil its function under the terms of Article 25 of the Convention may thereby be compromised,

Requests the Conference of the Parties at its third meeting to provide guidance on the setting of priorities within those items on the draft provisional agenda for which it seeks advice.

Annex to Recommendation II/12

DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDA OF THE THIRD MEETING OF THE SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Organizational matters:

2.1 Election of officers;

2.2 Adoption of the agenda;

2.3 Organization of work.

3. Assessment of the status and trends of the biological diversity of inland water ecosystems and identification of options for conservation and sustainable use.

4. Other matters on which advice from the SBSTTA is required by the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties:

4.1 Implementation of Article 7 on indicators and monitoring

4.1.1 Advice to Parties in addressing issues of monitoring and assessment, including an elaboration of assessment methodologies for meeting the requirements of the Convention, taking into account the contents of those national reports already prepared and reports to other conventions and international processes.

4.1.2 Options for capacity-building in developing countries in the application of guidelines and indicators for subsequent national reports.

4.1.3 Current approaches to indicator development and recommendations for a preliminary core set of indicators of biological diversity, particularly those related to threats.

4.2 Impact assessments

4.2.1 What kind of scientific and technical information should be collected for impact assessment of projects and what ways and means should be used to share this information to promote minimization of adverse impacts in accordance with Article 14?

4.3 Promotion of international technical and scientific cooperation

4.3.1 Provision of advice on the scientific, technical and technological aspects of international cooperation in the area of conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components, in accordance with Article 18.

4.4.1 Identification of alternative models and mechanisms for linkages between in-situ and ex-situ conservation.

4.5 Consideration of knowledge, innovations and practises of indigenous and local communities

4.6 Review of the implementation of the pilot phase of the clearing-house mechanism

4.7 Coastal and marine biological diversity

4.7.1 Scientific, technical and technological aspects of the conservation and sustainable use of coastal and marine biological diversity.

4.8 Terrestrial biological diversity

4.8.1 Ways and means to cooperate with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa on matters relating to biological diversity and drylands with a view to identifying common priorities.

4.8.2 Examination of specific issues related to biological diversity and sustainable mountain development arising out of the implementation of chapter 13 of Agenda 21.

4.8.3 Ways and means to cooperate with the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests on matters relating to biological diversity and forests with a view to developing common priorities.

4.9 Agricultural biological diversity

4.9.1 Gap analysis of the activities and instruments related to agricultural biological diversity in order to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in the agricultural sector.

5. Overall assessment of the SBSTTA's work and of the effectiveness of its advice (1995-1997), in the light of possible future work of the SBSTTA.

5.1 Review of the operations of the SBSTTA in light of the Conference of the Parties' review of its medium-term Programme of Work.

5.2 Review of the operations of the SBSTTA in light of the Conference of the Parties' review of a longer-term work programme.